In Search of Personal Welfare: A View of Ancient Chinese Religion (Suny Series in Chinese Philosophy & Culture) (Suny Series, Chinese Philosophy & Culture) [Paperback]

Mu-Chou Poo (Author)

Book Description

Series: Suny Series, Chinese Philosophy & Culture | Publication Date: December 31, 1997

This book is the first major reassessment of ancient Chinese religion to appear in recent years. It provides a historical investigation of broadly shared religious beliefs and goals in ancient China from the earliest period to the end of the Han Dynasty. The author makes use of recently acquired archeological data, traditional texts, and modern scholarly work from China, Japan, and the West. The overall concern of this book is to try to reach the religious mentality of the ancient Chinese in the context of personal and daily experiences. Poo deals with such problems as the definition of religion, the popular/elite controversy in methodology, and the use of "elite" documents in the study of ordinary life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mu-chou Poo is Research Fellow and Professor at the Institute of History and Philology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. He is the author of several works, including Wine and Wine Offering in the Religion of Ancient Egypt; Literature by the Nile: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Literature; and Burial Styles and Ideas of Life and Death.

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press; First Edition edition (December 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791436306
• ISBN-13: 978-0791436301
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars in-depth look at ancient Chinese religion, April 28, 2003

By 

Bao Pu (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In Search of Personal Welfare: A View of Ancient Chinese Religion (S U N Y Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture) (Hardcover)

This is a great book. It is hard to find books on ancient Chinese religion. This book is a must for students of ancient Chinese culture.

from the back cover:
This book is the first reassesment of ancient Chinese religion to appear in recent years. It provides a historical investigation of broadly shared religious beliefs and goals in ancient China from the earliest period to the end of the Han dynasty. The author makes use of recently acquired archaeological data, traditional texts, and modern scholarly work from China, Japan, and the west. The overall concern of this book is to reach the religious mentality of the ancient Chinese in the context of personal and daily experiences. Poo deals with such problems as the definition of religion, the popular/elite controversy in methodology, and the use of "elite" documents in the study of ordinary life.

from the conclusion:

"... the central theme of the religious beliefs of the ancient Chinese was the search for personal welfare, or, to use a common saying, to seek for happiness and to avoid misfortune ... It seems clear that ordinary people had similar ideas about what constituted a happy life: to keep away from sickness, fear, and hunger. This is reflected in the common saying: "Happiness is to have no misfortunes and illnesses." ... except for perhaps a few, happiness was expected to be found not in heaven but on earth."